A fourth win in five saw a confident Lancs Colts XI overcome Preston CC by 58 runs in a match reduced to 42 overs per side.
Stand in captain Will Chapples won a useful toss, and elected to bat first in this ECB Northern Premier League match.
Having lost opener Mike Barnes for 8 (run out), and keeper Alex Davies for 2 (stumped), the Colts fought back with a 3rd wicket stand of 87 runs by captain Chapples and Greg Platten.
Platten departed for 63 off 93 balls (6x4s, 1x6s) caught and bowled superbly by Lukman Vahaluwala to leave the score 110-3 off 33 overs.
Chapples, aided by Tom Steele’s 17 (not out), propelled Lancs forward with the skipper making 63 off 75 balls (6x4s, 1x6s) on route to a respectable score of 161-4 off 42 overs. Vahaluwala returned impressive economy of 1-31 off 13 overs for Preston.
Preston's reply got off to the worst possible start. The home side found themselves 30-4 inside 15 overs thanks to Richard Dempster’s figures of 2-11 off 7 overs and Luke Williams 1-19 spell off 7 overs, with Alex Davies taking 2 catches in the process.
The duo were ably supported by Joe Hawke who returned 2-16 off 8 overs, Toby Bulcock’s left arm spin of 2-28 off 8 overs, and Liam Watkinson’s late burst of 3-12 off 4 overs to see Preston all out for 103 inside 37 overs. Sajid Nalbandh top scored for Preston with 25 off 46 balls (4x4s).
Lancashire Colts next match is against St Annes CC on Saturday, 4th June 2011.
Scott Churchman, Lancs Colts XI Scorer.
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